Partnerships for recovery: Bayanihan in Action

This week, Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Senator Zed Seselja, is visiting the Philippines as part of his first official visit to the region to build engagement in the country.

As many readers will be aware, Australia and the Philippines are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. I often speak of our enduring partnership and shared tradition of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends.

Minister Seselja’s visit is an example of that tradition. It is a clear demonstration that Australia places the highest priority on working with its friends and near neighbors like the Philippines.

During his visit, Minister Seselja will meet our partners who are at the frontline of delivering Australia’s development program. He will meet with key government leaders to discuss how Australia can continue to support the Philippines to become more prosperous, stable and resilient.

A key focus of the Minister’s visit will be Australia’s vaccine and development support.

Australia has committed more than A$623.2 million (P18.35 billion) to provide safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Despite the challenges of the past year, we continue to work closely with the Philippine Government to shape Australia’s support to COVID-19 vaccinations in the country. We listen to our friends so that our support can be flexible and responsive to the needs of the Philippines.

Under Australia’s regional Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative, we are providing A$35.9 million (P1.26 billion) of direct support to the Philippines to procure and deliver vaccines. This is the second highest country allocation in the region, after Indonesia.

This initiative includes A$7.52 million (P263 million) in vaccine delivery support to the Department of Health and Department of Information and Communications Technology, delivered by UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Australia’s delivery support will bolster the country’s vaccine delivery capability, particularly in the poorest and most vulnerable regions.

Also under the Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative, Australia is providing A$13.72 million (P480.2 million) through Australia’s UNICEF procurement agreement to buy COVID-19 vaccines for the Philippines. This will make an important contribution to meeting the country’s vaccine needs in 2021. Our vaccine procurement will be accompanied by end-to-end distribution support to help roll-out Australian-funded vaccines.

In addition to our comprehensive regional support for vaccine access and delivery, Australian Prime Minister Morrison announced in June at the sidelines of the G7 meeting that Australia will share at least 20 million doses with our region by mid-2022.

We recognize the importance of vaccinating vulnerable populations and frontline workers, and so Australia has also contributed A$130 million (P4.55 billion) to the COVAX Facility Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) which is delivering vaccines to 92 eligible countries in line with national Vaccine Deployment Plans.

The Philippines was among the countries who had early access to COVAX AMC doses, which Australia strongly advocated for in our role as vice-chair of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance Board. So far, 5,025,870 doses have arrived in the Philippines through COVAX and more are expected over the coming months.

I often speak of our similar traditions of mateship and bayanihan. Our “Partnerships for Recovery” initiative, launched in 2020 in response to the challenges of COVID-19, is truly bayanihan in action. Our A$80 million (P2.8 billion) development investment in the last 12 months focused on health security, maintaining stability and economic recovery assistance.

To support stability, Australia continues to support the peace process and families affected by conflict. We are providing A$2.99 million (P106 million) funding for the Marawi COVID-19 Recovery Project (MCRP) to help at least 4,000 families restart lost livelihoods and recover from the impact of armed conflict, protracted displacement and COVID-19. We have also provided significant support to the Philippine Government to ensure children have access to quality education during the pandemic, especially those in the Bangsamoro.

To support the economic recovery, Australia works with the private sector to find innovative ways to address development challenges. Our local partners are helping to reskill and upskill workers at risk of being displaced by technological disruption, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19. We have provided access to financing to help women keep their small businesses operating during the pandemic. Through women’s business coalitions, we are also supporting Philippine companies to create more inclusive and flexible workplaces for women.

Minister Seselja will also discuss with our humanitarian partners how Australia can continue providing quick and effective emergency assistance to the Philippines. As the Taal Volcano rumbled to life this past week and communities evacuated to safety, the Philippine Red Cross was able to serve hot meals to affected families from a purpose-built food truck donated by Australia. Last year, we provided A$1.62 million (P56.7 million) of support, such as sleeping, hygiene and emergency shelter kits, to families affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

Australia is also supporting the Philippines to prepare for and reduce the impact of future disasters through our new ‘SHIELD’ program. We will continue to work with local governments, as first responders to emergencies, and communities to build resilience to disasters and climate change.

Another important area where Australia and the Philippines are working closely together is to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of Filipino children. Through the “SaferKidsPH” program, we are supporting a national awareness campaign on online safety and enhancing capacities to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate this type of crime.

As Minister Seselja’s visit this week demonstrates, our longstanding development partnership is an important part of Australia’s relationship with the Philippines. As close friends and neighbors, we will continue working together with the Philippines on our shared interest in an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

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Steven J. Robinson AO is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. Follow him on Twitter @AusAmbPH.